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It's raining heavily. Hope we get to reach the union office on time.
Welcome my friends
Meet our friend from AFW. She wants to discuss something important today.
I am new in the union. I have heard about AFW from my fellow workers. Can you please tell me more about AFW?
Most of the world's garments are produced in Asia. Seeing the dismal working conditions and below poverty level wages, labour activists and unions leaders in Asia came together to find a strategy for improving the wages to a minimum living level. These discussions started in Asian countries. These discussions have expanded to countries in the west too with the help of several partner organizations. An AFW Alliance was formed in 2007 and the countries in AFW Alliance are
How does the global garment industry work? We see buyers coming from Europe and USA to our factories
It is like this
Consumers
I understand it now! So, you are saying, by implementation of AFW, the garment workers will get higher wages?
Exactly. The living conditions of workers will definitely improve when the AFW is implemented.
Will raising wage not lead to closing down of factory and job loss?
No! Because it is a common demand of all garment workers organizations in Asia. Did you notice that you produce the clothes but you do not buy them yourselves?
True! That is because we don't have enough money to consume even the basic necessities!!
Exactly! But the moment we establish a minimum living wage, all of you will have enough money to buy more.
I think I am confused. Can you explain how that is going to help the economy?
You spend that extra Rs 100 buying more rice, flour and vegetables...
Then the grocery shop owner will have a Rs 100 more. He can now spend that money on something else....
And that is how it goes on... A Rs 100 will have big effect on lots of people
So, imagine if all garment workers have that extra money, that would be powerful enough to help the economy to get out of recession.
That sounds wonderful. But who is going to bear the cost of paying us more?
It is not that difficult. You know that the clothes you produce are sold to big brands in Europe and US. The brands' profit margins are huge and it would cost them next to nothing to pay Asia Floor Wage. They sell these clothes to consumers. They could also pay a little more.
But we have heard about the economic slowdown in Europe and the US? Can consumers there pay more for the clothes?
Moreover, the number of Asian workers is quite large and only if they are paid more, the general demand will increase. Increasing the demand will help in easier recovery from economic slowdown.
It seems that AFW has thought of players at all levels in the garment industry.
May be consumers will pay more. But how we will make sure that workers will get that more' paid by the consumers.
Yes. That is the point! That is why unions and labour rights organizations in the countries where these garments are produced are important. The unions can make industry wide agreements which will ensure the garment workers are paid Asia floor Wage. And that is why we want you all to join the unions that are demanding Asia Floor Wage for garment workers.
Yes. WE should join the campaign which is going to make sure a decent living for us.
10
Visit
International Coordinating Office & South Asia Coordination Society for Labour Development / Jobs with Justice New Delhi, India anannya48@gmail.com, anannya@jwj.org Southeast Asia Coordination
Trade Union Rights Centre Jakarta, Indonesia rita@turc.or.id, surya@turc.or.id
Europe Coordination
Clean Clothes Campaign Amsterdam, The Netherlands jeren@cleanclothes.org
UK Coordination
Action Aid-UK London Dominic.Eagleton@actionaid.org
Design: Dharana; studiodharana@gmail.com Published by Society for Labour and Development Printed by Printage India, New Delhi